DEMARCHE ON IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000257 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP/MNA - MARK GOODMAN AND SHIRLEY HART ALSO NP/PPC - JULIET SMITH E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2010 TAGS: KNNP TRGY PREL AORC IAEA TC SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT AND THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL REF: 04 STATE 268162 (U) Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On January 16, Pol Chief and G-8 representatives (France, Japan, Russia, Italy, Canada, and UK -- Germany had a schedule conflict) jointly delivered reftel points to MFA Director for International Organizations, Yacub Al Hosani. Pol Chief also provided Al Hosani with a copy of the letter endorsed by G-8 Foreign Ministers addressed to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed. Al Hosani told us that the UAEG would have &no problem8 signing the Additional Protocol, but that the process would require coordination with other UAE federal agencies. When we asked how long that process of consultation might take, Al Hosani replied that it was &just a matter of time.8 ¶2. (C) The UAE shares the goal of adopting the highest standards for IAEA safeguards by adopting the Additional Protocol, Al Hosani said. &This issue is very important to us. At the highest level, we want to secure our country,8 he said. The United Arab Emirates is a very open country that needs to protect itself against proliferators, he continued, citing the AQ Khan case. &We need to strengthen the rules and monitor entry points8 because we do not want to allow anybody to violate the laws, he said. The IAEA,s procedures will give the UAE the protection it seeks. Al Hosani informed the group that the Ministry of Energy is the focal point for IAEA issues. SISON